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President’s Message
Dear Friends,
When I opened last year’s report, I wrote about a country facing a multi-front war. It is a sobering reality that, one year later, we remain deeply entrenched in these hostilities, with no clear end in sight. The past year has placed a profound toll on our community. And yet, once again, the University of Haifa has risen to the challenge.
Our resilience has been evident in the faculty and student reservists who answered the call to serve, in students who adapted to remote learning, and in faculty who sustained our academic mission in an uncertain and volatile environment.
Since October 7, our task has not simply been to endure. It has been about propelling ourselves forward and ensuring that our mission is realized through every action we take. Nothing reflects this commitment more clearly than the first cohort of the Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine, who are taking their first steps toward becoming compassionate physicians dedicated to the needs of our northern communities.
Our “Third Mission,” as I call it, is to strengthen Israel’s northern periphery, which has been deeply affected in recent years – a mission rooted in social impact. As the region’s largest comprehensive research university, we have a responsibility to serve as a catalyst for social mobility and economic growth. This work complements our core roles of world-class teaching and pioneering research.
In this report, you will find examples of that commitment – from legal clinics serving vulnerable populations to groundbreaking research addressing PTSD, a challenge that has become increasingly urgent. I am also proud to highlight the establishment of the Faculty of Computer and Information Science, launched in the 2025-26 academic year, an initiative already reshaping our academic landscape. The Faculty is becoming a hub for innovation, driving economic and intellectual growth for our students, the city of Haifa, and the broader northern region.
It is important to acknowledge that, since the start of the war, we continue to navigate a complex global academic environment in which Israeli researchers are often regarded as persona non grata in many academic circles. These academic boycotts place increasing pressure on international research collaborations and conferences. We remain committed to maintaining and strengthening these partnerships, grounded in the belief that scientific progress depends on open exchanges across borders. Without it, we are all diminished. We value your partnership in helping to amplify this message.
Friends, thank you for your continued support and generosity. We hope you take pride in these achievements – they belong to you as much as they do to us. As ever, I look forward with confidence and optimism to what lies ahead for our beloved institution.
Sincerely,
Prof. Gur Alroey
President
University of Haifa
The Chair of the Board of Governor's Message
Dear Governors,
In my first year as Chair of the Board of Governors, I had the opportunity to get to know many members of the University's administration, staff, and faculty. While each person is an inspiring leader in his or her own right, they are united by a shared vision. This sense of purpose makes the University of Haifa special -- an institution with a powerful vision for the future and the determination to bring that vision to fruition.
The leadership's vision has 3 foci: the University, the students, and the North of Israel.
Our fundamental focus is on building a world-class university. This year, the University took an important step forward in its investment in science and technology with the opening of the Herta & Paul Amir School of Medicine. The administration is working to further expand our academic offerings.
The next key concern is our students' success, both in their education and in their lives. Long-term war has taken a tremendous toll on everyone, but most seriously on students in active military service. The University of Haifa is taking steps to support them, financially, educationally, and emotionally. As President Alroey has said: "They protect the nation; we protect their future.”
Finally, the University looks outward to the surrounding region and its people, putting academia in service to society. We have the knowledge and power to uplift the North of Israel and aid in its recovery. For example, our first-year medical students are helping with patient care to support the severely strained medical system. Similarly, the Frieze Center for Shared Society, established last year, promotes collaboration among academia, public institutions, and communities. This center exemplifies our commitment to fostering dialogue and building connections across Israel's diverse society.
The University of Haifa is creating a brilliant future for our university, for Israel, and for the world. Thank you for being part of this work.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michal Amir Salkin
Chair, Board of Governors
University of Haifa
Message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee
Dear Friends,
As the University of the North, our campus stands not just as a center of learning, but as a strategic anchor overlooking a landscape currently defined by the shadows of war. As the State of Israel defends itself against the aggression of Iran and the immediate threats along our northern borders, our proximity to the front lines deepens our sense of duty. Here in Haifa, our pursuit of excellence is an act of daily defiance. By maintaining our academic rigor amidst the echoes of conflict, our community provides the intellectual and moral fortitude necessary to sustain the nation’s northern heartland, proving that our resolve is as unshakable as the mountain we call home.
The mission of the University of Haifa has always been intertwined with the security and prosperity of the State of Israel, but never has that bond been more tested than in this struggle against Iran and the proxies seeking to destabilize our Galilee and northern frontiers. As the leading institution of the North, we bear a unique responsibility to cultivate the excellence that will rebuild and lead this region toward a future of peace. Our community is the living embodiment of Israeli resilience: a diverse, brilliant tapestry of minds that refuses to be silenced by the drums of war. Your support on this Board ensures that the North remains a powerhouse of innovation and a beacon of hope, safeguarding the vital spirit of Israel from the heights of Haifa to the borders beyond.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, I offer our deepest gratitude for your enduring commitment to our institution during these trying times. As the University of the North, your support enables our community to remain a bastion of stability and growth. Together, we are cultivating the leadership and excellence essential to building a peaceful, thriving, and secure life for all of Israel’s citizens.
Sincerely,
Adv. Dov Weissglas
Chairman of the Executive Committee
University of Haifa
Rector's Message
Dear Governors,
Last month, a paper from my laboratory was accepted by a leading journal ranked in the top 10% in its field. This was the work of one of my PhD students, and I found myself genuinely moved – not only by the scientific achievement itself, but by what it represents. In a year so intensely devoted to institutional leadership, I was reminded that I remain, at my core, a scientist and a mentor. The ability to continue contributing to research excellence while advancing the University of Haifa’s broader agenda fills me with deep pride. It is precisely this integration, between personal academic commitment and institutional vision, that I believe defines who we are and what we aspire to be as a university.
Over the past year, we have translated this vision into tangible achievements. Chief among them is the launch of the Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine, an ambitious and transformative milestone. Interest in the program was exceptionally strong, allowing us to select an outstanding cohort of students. From the outset, they are being immersed in clinical experience, working with patients in local hospitals and community clinics. The School reflects our commitment to combining scientific innovation with a deeply humanistic approach to medicine, grounded in the needs of the diverse communities we serve.
We have also continued to strengthen our strategic areas of growth, particularly through the launch of a new Faculty of Computer and Information Science, located in the Technological Campus in downtown Haifa. This initiative advances our leadership in computer science, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary research, while reinforcing our commitment to a diverse student body and meaningful social impact.
This year included moments that highlighted the broader reach and responsibility of our work, particularly in advancing our founding mission of shared society. A recent meeting with His holiness Pope Leo XIV offered a powerful reminder of the importance of dialogue, humility, and the role of institutions like ours in fostering understanding, especially in times of conflict.
The University’s growing visibility was also reflected in a recent feature in Science, tracing my journey at the University of Haifa – from student to academic faculty and leadership. While deeply personal, the story also reflects the broader theme of social mobility through education, a central pillar of our mission, as well as the collective strength and resilience of our academic community.
All of this has taken place within a complex and evolving reality – regionally, nationally, and globally. Yet our faculty, staff, and students continue to demonstrate extraordinary dedication. Their commitment enables us not only to endure, but to move forward with purpose and clarity.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each of you. Your support and partnership in our mission are essential to everything we have achieved – and to what lies ahead.
We move forward with confidence and determination to build a university that exemplifies excellence in research and teaching, while serving as a model of leadership, responsibility, and shared purpose.
With deep appreciation and warm regards,
Prof. Mouna Maroun
Rector
University of Haifa
